10 must-watch players at the 2025 NCAA Men's Golf Championship at Omni La Costa
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Drone flyover video of Omni La Costa North Course par-4 15th hole
Omni La Costa is hosting the NCAA mens and womens golf championships for a second year in a row. The North Course's 15th hole is a challenging par 4.
CARLSBAD, Calif. — It's time for the national championship.
The 2025 NCAA Men's Golf Championship gets underway Friday at Omni La Costa Resort & Spa's North Course in Carlsbad, California. Thirty of the best men's golf teams in the country will descend upon Southern California to battle it out for the national title.
And making up those teams are some of the best players in the amateur game. There are numerous stars who will play for the individual title over the coming days at Omni La Costa, including plenty who are finalists for the 2025 Haskins Award.
10 players to watch at NCAA Men's Golf Championship
Josele Ballester, Arizona State
The 2024 U.S. Amateur champion has one final collegiate start, and Arizona State is playing strong heading into the postseason.
Luke Clanton, Florida State
The best amateur in the world finished T-2 at Omni La Costa last year, and he may be the outright favorite to win a title.
Ben James, Virginia
Another player who finished T-2 last year, James and Virginia are looking to build off an impressive showing at regionals.
Jackson Koivun, Auburn
The 2024 Haskins winner, guess what, also finished T-2 last year. He has won consecutive tournaments coming in at the SEC Championship and NCAA Auburn Regional.
Michael La Sasso, Ole Miss
La Sasso will get his first crack at Omni La Costa after Ole Miss didn't make nationals last year, and he'll be key to Ole Miss making a run.
Christiaan Maas, Texas
Maas is one of the faces of the Longhorns' squad that has been rolling in the spring, and he tied for 11th last year.
Preston Stout, Oklahoma State
Stout won the Big 12 title for the second straight year, and if Oklahoma State goes on a run this week, he'll be a big reason why.
Hiroshi Tai, Georgia Tech
Last year, Tai came out of nowhere, overcoming a triple on his penultimate hole to win the individual title. He'll try to channel those good feelings again.
Brendan Valdes, Auburn
Valdes didn't record an under-par round last year at La Costa, but this year will be different in his final collegiate tournament.
Jackson Van Paris, Vanderbilt
No Gordon Sargent, no problem for Vanderbilt, which saw Van Paris win a regional title and will hope to lean on him at NCAAs.
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